This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-161207, filed on Sep. 4, 2019, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosures of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a liquid surface imaging device and a liquid discharge apparatus.
In a nozzle from which a liquid is discharged, a state of a liquid surface of the liquid in the nozzle affects discharge characteristics of a liquid discharge head that includes the nozzle to discharge the liquid.
A method to detect a nozzle state of the liquid discharge head includes a step that applies a first drive voltage to an actuator to discharge a first droplet, a step that applies a second drive voltage to the actuator to discharge a second droplet in a state in which meniscus formed in the nozzle is protrude in a direction toward the nozzle opposite to a liquid chamber after the first droplet is discharged from the nozzle, and a step that detects a discharge direction of the second droplet from the nozzle with a discharge direction detector.
In an aspect of this disclosure, a liquid surface imaging device includes an irradiator including a plurality of lightings, the irradiator configured to irradiate a liquid surface in a nozzle of a liquid discharge head with lights emitted from the plurality of lightings, and an imaging device configured to image the liquid surface. The plurality of lightings is arranged point-asymmetrically with a center of the imaging device as a point of symmetry.
In another aspect of this disclosure, a liquid surface imaging device includes an irradiator including a plurality of lightings, the irradiator configured to irradiate a liquid surface in a nozzle of a liquid discharge head with lights emitted from the plurality of lightings, and an imaging device configured to image the liquid surface. The plurality of lightings is arranged point-symmetrically with a center of the imaging device as a point of symmetry, and the irradiator individually turns off a part of the plurality of lightings and turns on the other part of the part of the plurality of lightings to image the liquid surface with imaging device.
In still another aspect of this disclosure, a liquid surface imaging device includes an irradiator including a belt-shaped lighting, the irradiator configured to irradiate a liquid surface in a nozzle of a liquid discharge head with light emitted from the belt-shaped lighting, and an imaging device configured to image the liquid surface. The belt-shaped lighting is arranged point-asymmetrically around a center of the imaging device as a point of symmetry.
The aforementioned and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.
In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have the same function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve similar results.
Although the embodiments are described with technical limitations with reference to the attached drawings, such description is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and all of the components or elements described in the embodiments of this disclosure are not necessarily indispensable. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the attached drawings. Next, a first embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 includes an irradiator 20 and an imaging device 30. The irradiator 20 includes a plurality of lightings 22 to irradiate a liquid surface 301 (meniscus surface) of a liquid 300 held inside a nozzle 202. The nozzle 202 is formed in a nozzle plate 201 (see
The irradiator 20 includes the plurality of lightings 22 that are arranged annularly in a holder 21. The plurality of lightings 22 includes an absence portion 23 (notched portion) in which a part of the plurality of the lightings 22 (one lighting in
However, two or more lightings 22 may be absent (not existed) in the absent portion. The plurality of lightings 22 is arranged point-asymmetrically with a center 30a (optical axis) as a point (center) of symmetry when the imaging device 30 is viewed in an imaging direction (viewed in a vertical direction from above in
The plurality of lightings 22 is a part that is turned on. The plurality of lightings 22 may include light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs). As illustrated in
Particularly, the liquid surface imaging device 10 has a configuration in which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted to the plurality of lightings 22 via the mirror. Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 can prevent the liquid dropped from the head 200 from attaching the irradiator 20 and the imaging device 30.
The imaging device 30 includes an imaging element 32 and a lens 33. The imaging element 32 is arranged inside a housing 31 and images the liquid surface 301. The lens 33 is arranged on a front surface (upper surface in
Next, an operation of the liquid surface imaging device 10 is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 faces the liquid surface 301 in the nozzle 202 as illustrated in
The liquid surface imaging device 10 turns on the plurality of lightings 22 of the irradiator 20 to irradiate (illuminates) the liquid surface 301 with light “a” (see
For example, as illustrated in
A shape and a size of the optical image 322 in the image 320 change according to a shape and a curvature of the liquid surface 301, a state of the liquid surface 301 such as a solidification of the liquid 300 around a periphery of the nozzle 202.
Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the ninth embodiment can obtain the image 320 with the imaging device 30 to observe and grasp the state of the liquid surface 301.
Further, the plurality of lightings 22 is arranged point-asymmetrically with the center 30a (optical axis) of the imaging device 30 as the point (center) of symmetry according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure (see
Therefore, the absence portion 323 in the image 320 imaged by the imaging device 30 is disposed opposite to the absence portion 23 of the irradiator 20 as illustrated in
Note that the observed phenomenon may be reversed depending on an arrangement of the lens 33 and the imaging device 30, and an image processing method, and the like. That is, there is a case in which the image is inverted when the liquid surface 301 has a convex shape, and the image is not inverted when the liquid surface 301 has a concave shape. Even in an above-described case, the liquid surface imaging device 10 can observe the state of the liquid surface 301 and determine an abnormality of the liquid surface 301.
Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 can determine whether a shape of the liquid surface 301 is concave or convex from the position of the absence portion 323 in the image 320. The head 200 cannot perform a normal discharge operation when the liquid surface 301 has a convex shape as illustrated in the liquid surface 301B in
Next, an imaging operation for the head 200 including the nozzle plate 201 that includes a plurality of nozzles 202 is described with reference to
As illustrated in
If the liquid surfaces 301A to 301C in three nozzles 202A to 202C are all concave shape (see liquid surfaces 301A and 301C in
Conversely, if the liquid surface 301B of the nozzle 202B in the middle of the nozzles 202A to 202C is a convex shape (see liquid surface 301B in
Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the first embodiment is used to enable imaging and observation of the state of the liquid surface 301 in the plurality of nozzles 202 at one time.
Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The irradiator 20 of the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the second embodiment includes the plurality of lightings 22 that is arranged annularly. Further, a part of the plurality of lightings 22 can be individually turned off. The part of the plurality of lightings 22 is also referred to as a “lighting 22a” in
Thus, the irradiator 20 turns off the lighting 22a to make the plurality of lightings 22 other than the lighting 22a to be arranged point-asymmetrically with the center 30a (optical axis) of the imaging device 30 as the point (center) of symmetry according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure (see
According to such a configuration in
Further, the irradiator 20 in the first embodiment is difficult to obtain meniscus information of the absence portion 23. The irradiator 20 in the first embodiment does not include the lighting 22a in the absence portion 23 and includes the plurality of lightings 22 that is point-asymmetrically arranged. However, the irradiator 20 in the second embodiment can turn on and turn off the lighting 22a so that the liquid surface imaging device 10 can obtain full information of the meniscus in the nozzles 202 including the meniscus information of the absence portion 23 without defect.
Next, a different example of the liquid surface imaging device 10 in a third embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The irradiator 20 of the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the second embodiment includes the plurality of lightings 22 that is arranged annularly. The irradiator 20 can turns on a part of the plurality of lightings 22 such that a light emission intensity of the part of the plurality of the lightings 22 is made different from light emission intensities of the other part of the plurality of lightings 22. The part of the plurality of lightings 22 is referred to as “lighting 22b” and “lighting 22c” in
Thus, the irradiator 20 turns on the lighting 22b to make other lightings 22, having substantially the same light emission intensity, to be arranged point-asymmetrically with the center 30a (optical axis) of the imaging device 30 as the point (center) of symmetry.
In an example illustrated in
According to such a configuration in
However, the irradiator 20 in the third embodiment can turn on and turn off the lighting 22b or 22c with the light emission intensity different from the light emission intensities of other lightings 22 so that the liquid surface imaging device 10 can obtain full information of the meniscus in the nozzles 202 including the meniscus information of the absence portion 23 without defect.
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The irradiator 20 of the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the second embodiment includes the plurality of lightings 22 that is arranged annularly. The irradiator 20 can turns on a part of the plurality of lightings 22 such that a light emission color of the part of the plurality of the lightings 22 is different from a light emission color of the other part of the plurality of lightings 22. The part of the plurality of lightings 22 is referred to as “lighting 22d” in
Thus, the irradiator 20 turns on the lighting 22d to emit light, the light emission color of which is different from the light emission color of the other part of the plurality of lightings 22. Thus, the other part of the plurality of lightings 22 that emit substantially the same light emission color are arranged point-asymmetrically with the center 30a (optical axis) of the imaging device 30 as the point (center) of symmetry.
Further, the irradiator 20 in the first embodiment is difficult to obtain meniscus information of the absence portion 23. The irradiator 20 in the first embodiment does not include the lighting 22a in the absence portion 23 and includes the plurality of lightings 22 that is point-asymmetrically arranged. However, the irradiator 20 in the fourth embodiment can turn on and turn off the lighting 22c with the light emission color different from the light emission color of other lightings 22 so that the liquid surface imaging device 10 can obtain full information of the meniscus in the nozzles 202 including the meniscus information of the absence portion 23 without defect.
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the fifth embodiment can select a lighting 22a to be turned off from any of the plurality of lightings 22 that is arranged annularly as illustrated in
A sixth embodiment according to the present disclosure is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the sixth embodiment can select a lighting 22a, the light emission intensity of which is reduced, from any of the plurality of lightings 22 that is arranged annularly as illustrated in
Next, a different example of the liquid surface imaging device 10 in a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
A first example illustrated in
In a second example to a sixth example respectively illustrated in
Next, a different example of the liquid surface imaging device 10 in an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
A first example illustrated in
In a second example to a sixth example respectively illustrated in
Two lightings 22 are arranged in the second example in
A ninth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 includes an irradiator 20 and an imaging device 30. The irradiator 20 includes one belt-shaped (annular) lighting 42 to irradiate the liquid surface 301 (meniscus surface) of the liquid 300 held inside the nozzle 202 with a light. The nozzle 202 is formed in the nozzle plate 201 (see
The irradiator 20 includes one continuously belt-shaped (annular) lighting 42 in the holder 21. The belt-shaped (annular) lighting 42 is annular and includes an absence portion 43 in a part of the belt-shaped (annular) lighting 42. The lighting 42 is arranged point-asymmetrically with the center 30a (optical axis) of the imaging device 30 as a point of symmetry. Thus, the belt-shaped lighting 42 has a shape point-asymmetrically with the center 30a of the imaging device 30 as a point of symmetry.
Specifically, the lighting 42 is arranged point-asymmetrically with the center 30a (optical axis) as a point (center) of symmetry when the imaging device 30 is viewed in an imaging direction (viewed in a vertical direction from above in
The lighting 42 is a part that is turned on to emit a light. The lighting 42 itself may include a tube-like light source. Alternatively, the liquid surface imaging device 10 may include a lens, a mirror, a prism, an optical fiber, or the like to transmit light emitted from the separately arranged light source to the lighting 42.
Particularly, the liquid surface imaging device 10 has a configuration in which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted to the lighting 42 via the mirror. Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 can prevent the liquid dropped from the head 200 from attaching the irradiator 20 and the imaging device 30.
The imaging device 30 includes an imaging element 32 and a lens 33. The imaging element 32 is arranged inside a housing 31 and images the liquid surface 301. The lens 33 is arranged on a front surface (upper surface in
Next, an operation of the liquid surface imaging device 10 is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 faces the liquid surface 301 in the nozzle 202 as illustrated in
The liquid surface imaging device 10 turns on the belt-shaped (annular) lighting 42 of the irradiator 20 to irradiate (illuminates) the liquid surface 301 with light “a” (see
For example, as illustrated in
A shape and a size of the optical image 342 in the image 340 change according to a shape and a curvature of the liquid surface 301, a state of the liquid surface 301 such as a solidification of the liquid 300 around a periphery of the nozzle 202.
Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the ninth embodiment can obtain the image 340 with the imaging device 30 to observe and grasp the state of the liquid surface 301.
Further, the belt-shaped (annular) lighting 42 has a shape that is point-asymmetrically with the center 30a (optical axis) of the imaging device 30 as the point (center) of symmetry according to the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure (see
Therefore, the absence portion 343 in the image 340 imaged by the imaging device 30 is disposed opposite to the absence portion 43 of the irradiator 20 as illustrated in
Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 can determine whether the shape of the liquid surface 301 is concave or convex from the position of the absence portion 343 in the image 320. The head 200 cannot perform a normal discharge operation when the liquid surface 301 has a convex shape as illustrated in the liquid surface 301B in
Next, an imaging operation for the head 200 including the nozzle plate 201 that includes a plurality of nozzles 202 is described with reference to
As illustrated in
If the liquid surfaces 301A to 301C in three nozzles 202A to 202C are all concave shape (see liquid surfaces 301A and 301C in
Conversely, if the liquid surface 301B of the nozzle 202B in the middle of the nozzles 202A to 202C is a convex shape (see liquid surface 301B in
Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the first embodiment is used to enable imaging and observation of the state of the liquid surface 301 in the plurality of nozzles 202 at one time.
Next, a different example of the liquid surface imaging device 10 in a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
A first example illustrated in
In a second example in
Next, different examples of the liquid surface imaging device 10 in an eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The first example of
In a second example to a fourth example respectively illustrated in
Two lightings 42 are arranged in parallel with the center 30a disposed between the two lightings 42 in the second example in
Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
In the twelfth embodiment, the irradiator 20 includes four light sources 45 (light emitters) arranged in a rectangular shape as illustrated in
Therefore, as illustrated in
The irradiator 20 in the twelfth embodiment does not have to have an asymmetrical shape or annular shape. Thus, it is improved a degree of freedom in selection of the shape of the irradiator 20. Further, there are advantages in a layout of arrangement of the irradiator 20 and a cost of the irradiator 20.
A thirteenth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The irradiator 20 according to the thirteenth embodiment includes the annular lightings 42A and 42B respectively including the absence portions 43A and 43B. The annular lightings 42A and 42B are arranged concentrically. Thus, the irradiator 20 includes two or more lightings 42A and 42B arranged concentrically in a radial direction with the point of symmetry (center 30a) of the imaging device 30 as a starting point. The center 30a of the imaging device 30 is the point of symmetry.
The liquid surface imaging device 10 thus configured emits light “a1” from the lighting 42A arranged inside the lighting 42B to the liquid surface 301 in the nozzle 202 of the head 200. A reflected light of the light “a1” reflected from the liquid surface 301 enters the imaging device 30 as illustrated in
Thus, as illustrated in
The liquid surface imaging device 10 thus configured can obtain information of the liquid surface 301 at two places of the lightings 42A and 42B in the radial direction of the nozzle 202. For example, the liquid surface imaging device 10 can obtain a curvature of the liquid surface 301 from a positional relationship between the two places of the lightings 42A and 42B.
Next, a fourteenth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the fourteenth embodiment is similar to the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the second example of the seventh embodiment as illustrated in
Each of the inner lightings 22A and the outer lightings 22B has a polygonal shape (triangle in
Next, different examples of the liquid surface imaging device 10 in a fifteenth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
Similar to the thirteenth embodiment as illustrated in
In a first example illustrated in
In a second example illustrated in
In a third example in
Thus, the irradiator 20 includes at least one lighting (42A, 22, and 22A), and the at least one lightning (42A, 22, and 22A) and the plurality of lightnings (42B, 42, and 22B) are arranged concentrically in a radial direction with the center 30a of the imaging device 10 as the point of symmetry.
Next, a sixteenth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 in the sixteenth embodiment includes a lighting 22e that is a part of the plurality of lightings 22. The lighting 22e is disposed farther (lower in
Since the part of lighting 22e is arranged farther from the liquid surface 301 than the plurality of lightings 22 as illustrated in
Next, a seventeenth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the seventeenth embodiment moves relative to the nozzle plate 201 in a nozzle array direction as indicated by arrow “A” in
Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 according the seventeenth embodiment can observe a larger number of liquid surfaces 301 in the nozzles 202.
Next, an eighteenth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the eighteenth embodiment includes the irradiator 20 that is movable toward or away from the nozzle plate 201 (liquid surface 301) as an imaging target in a direction (vertical direction) indicated by arrow “B” in
The liquid surface imaging device 10 thus configured can obtain the image 340 having the largest optical image 342 as illustrated in
The liquid surface imaging device 10 can obtain the image 340 having a medium sized optical image 342 as illustrated in
The liquid surface imaging device 10 can obtain the image 340 having the smallest optical image 342 as illustrated in
In each of the above-described embodiments, the plurality of lightings 22 of the irradiator 20 is arranged in the periphery of the imaging device 30. Thus, the liquid surface imaging device 10 according to the eighteenth embodiment can reduce the size of the liquid surface imaging device 10. However, if the liquid surface 301 is inside an imaging region of the imaging device 30, the reflected light from the liquid surface 301 is incident on the imaging device 30. Thus, the plurality of lightings 22 of the irradiator 20 may not be arranged in a periphery of the imaging device 30.
Next, a nineteenth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The printer 500 includes a loading device 510, a printing device 520, a drying device 530, and an ejection device 540. The printer 500 applies a liquid to a sheet P conveyed from the loading device 510 by the printing device 520 to perform required printing, dries the liquid adhering to the sheet P by the drying device 530, and ejects the sheet P to the ejection device 540.
The loading device 510 includes a loading tray 511 on which a plurality of sheets P are stacked, a feeding device 512 to separate and feed the sheets P one by one from the loading tray 511, and a resist roller pair 513 to feed the sheet P to the printing device 520.
Any feeder such as a device using a roller or a device using air suction may be used as the feeding device 512. The sheet P delivered from the loading tray 511 by the feeding device 512 is delivered to the printing device 520 by the resist roller pair 513 being driven at a predetermined timing after a leading edge of the sheet P reaches the resist roller pair 513.
The printing device 520 includes a sheet conveyor 521 to convey the sheet P. The sheet conveyor 521 includes a drum 551 and a suction device 552. The drum 551 is a bearer (rotating member) that bears the sheet P on a circumferential surface of the drum 551 and rotates. The suction device 552 generates a suction force on the circumferential surface of the drum 551.
The printing device 520 includes a liquid discharge device 522 that discharges the liquid toward the sheet P carried on the drum 551 of the sheet conveyor 521 to apply the liquid to the sheet P.
The printing device 520 further includes a transfer cylinder 524 and a delivery cylinder 525. The transfer cylinder 524 receives the fed sheet P and transfers the sheet P to the drum 551. The delivery cylinder 525 delivers the sheet P conveyed by the drum 551 to the drying device 530.
The leading end of the sheet P conveyed from the loading device 510 to the printing device 520 is gripped by a sheet gripper provided on a surface of the transfer cylinder 524 and is conveyed in accordance with the rotation of the transfer cylinder 524. The transfer cylinder 524 forwards the sheet P to the drum 551 at a position opposite the drum 551.
The drum 551 also includes the sheet gripper on a surface of the drum 551. The sheet gripper on the drum 551 grips the leading end of the sheet P. A plurality of suction holes are dispersedly formed on the surface of the drum 551. A suction device 552 generates a suction airflow from the plurality of suction holes of the drum 551 toward an interior of the drum 551.
On the drum 551, the sheet gripper grips the leading end of the sheet P forwarded from the transfer cylinder 524, and the sheet P is attracted to and borne on the drum 551 by the suction airflows by the suction device 552. As the drum 551 rotates, the sheet P is conveyed.
The liquid discharge device 522 includes discharge units 523 (523A to 523D) to discharge liquids of each color, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). For example, the discharge unit 523A discharges a liquid of cyan (C), the discharge unit 523B discharges a liquid of magenta (M), the discharge unit 523C discharges a liquid of yellow (Y), and the discharge unit 523D discharges a liquid of black (K), respectively.
The discharge units 523 may also include a discharge unit that discharges a special liquid such as white or gold (silver), or a treatment liquid such as a surface coating liquid.
The discharge unit 523 is a full line head and includes a plurality of liquid discharge heads 200 (hereinafter simply referred to as “heads 200”) arranged in a staggered manner on a base 221. Each of the plurality of heads 200 includes a nozzle plate 201 that includes a plurality of nozzle rows (two rows in
A discharge operation of each of the discharge units 523 of the liquid discharge device 522 is controlled by drive signals corresponding to print information. When the sheet P carried by the drum 551 passes through a region facing the liquid discharge device 522, the liquid of each color is discharged from the discharge units 523, and an image corresponding to the print information is printed on the sheet P.
The drying device 530 includes a drying mechanism 531 and a suction conveyance mechanism 532. The drying mechanism 531 dries the liquid adhered on the sheet P by the printing device 520. The suction conveyance mechanism 532 conveys (attracts and conveys) the sheet P while attracting the sheet P conveyed from the printing device 520.
After the sheet P conveyed from the printing device 520 is received by the suction conveyance mechanism 532, the sheet P is conveyed to pass through the drying mechanism 531 and delivered to the ejection device 540.
When the sheet P passes through the dying mechanism 531, the liquid on the sheet P is subjected to a drying process. Thus, the liquid component, such as water in the liquid evaporates and the colorant contained in the liquid, is fixed on the sheet P. Thus, curling of the sheet P is reduced.
The ejection device 540 includes an ejection tray 541 on which a plurality of sheets P are stacked. The sheets P conveyed from the drying device 530 are sequentially stacked and held on the ejection tray 541.
For example, the printer 500 may include a pre-processing unit to perform pre-processing of image formation on the sheet P. The pre-processing unit is disposed on an upstream of the printing device 520. Further, the printer 500 may include a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the sheet P, to which the liquid is adhered, between the drying device 530 and the ejection device 540.
For example, the pre-processing unit may perform a pre-application process that applies a treatment liquid on the sheet P before the image formation. The treatment liquid reacts with the liquid to reduce bleeding of the liquid to the sheet P. However, the content of the pre-processing is not particularly limited to the process as described above. Further, the post-processing unit may perform a sheet reversing process and a binding process for binding a plurality of sheets P, for example. The sheet reversing process reverses the sheet P, on which image is printed by the printing device 520, and conveys the reversed sheet P again to the printing device 520 to print on both sides of the sheet P.
The above-described embodiments describe the printer 500 that prints an image on a cut sheet P. However, the printer 500 may also be applied to a printer that prints an image on a continuous material such as continuous paper.
Next, an example of a configuration of the printing device 520 in the printer 500 is described with reference to
As described above, the printing device 520 includes the discharge units 523 (523A to 523D) arranged around the drum 551.
The printing device 520 includes a cap device 570 (570A to 570D) including caps 571 to respectively cap the heads 200 of the discharge unit 523. The cap device 570 (570A to 570D) are reciprocally movable in an axial direction of the drum 551 that is a direction indicated by arrow X (X-direction) in
When a nozzle surface of the head 200 is capped by the cap 571 of the cap device 570, the discharge unit 523 ascends in a normal direction of the drum 551. The cap device 570 enters a space below the discharge unit 523 (space between the discharge unit 523 and the drum 551), and the discharge unit 523 descends in the normal direction of the drum 551 toward the cap device 570.
Further, the printing device 520 includes a wiping and imaging device 580 that mounts wiping devices 581 and the liquid surface imaging device 10 (10A to 10D) according to the above-described embodiments. The wiping and imaging device 580 is reciprocally movable in the X direction. The wiping devices 581 wipe the nozzle surfaces of the heads 200 of the discharge unit 523.
The discharge unit 523 ascends in the normal direction of the drum 551, and the wiping and imaging device 580 enters the space below the discharge unit 523 (space between the discharge unit 523 and the drum 551) and reciprocally moves in the X-direction to wipe the nozzle surface of the heads 200 with a wiping member such as a web when the wiping devices 581 wipe the nozzle surfaces of the heads 200.
When the liquid surface imaging device 10 images the image 320 on the liquid surface 301, the discharge unit 523 ascends in the normal direction of the drum 551, the wiping and imaging device 580 enters the space below the discharge unit 523 (space between the discharge unit 523 and the drum 551) and reciprocally moves in the X-direction to image the liquid surface 301 by the liquid surface imaging device 10.
The printer 500 includes a maintenance controller 801 (circuitry) that controls a maintenance operation performed on the heads 200 in the printer 500. The maintenance controller 801 may be configured as a part of a controller of the printer 500, for example.
The maintenance controller 801 controls a reciprocal movement of the cap device 570 via the motor driver 802 and controls to drive a suction pump 572 connected to the cap 571 via a pump driver 803.
The maintenance controller 801 controls to drive the wiping devices 581 via the motor driver 804. For example, the maintenance controller 801 controls movement of the web in the wiping device 581 via the motor driver 804.
The maintenance controller 801 controls the reciprocal movement of the wiping and imaging device 580 via the motor driver 805.
The maintenance controller 801 instructs the imaging controller 810 to perform an imaging operation and captures the imaging result. The imaging controller 810 controls imaging of the liquid surface 301 by the liquid surface imaging device 10.
The maintenance controller 801 instructs the discharge detector 820 to perform a discharge detection operation and import a discharge detection result. The maintenance controller 801 controls the head 200 to discharge a liquid onto an electrode plate arranged in the cap 571 so that the discharge detector 820 detects a discharge state of the nozzle 202 from an electrical change on the electrode plate, for example.
The maintenance controller 801 controls to drive a discharge device elevation motor 902 that ascends and descends the discharge unit 523 via the discharge device drive controller 901.
The maintenance controller 801 causes the discharge detector 820 to perform discharge detection for each nozzle 202 of each head 200 of the discharge unit 523 (step S1). Hereinafter, the step S1 is simply referred to as “S1.”
The maintenance controller 801 imports the discharge detection result from the discharge detector 820. The maintenance controller 801 determines presence or absence of a defective nozzle 202 (such as a non-discharge nozzle). When the maintenance controller 801 determines that there is the defective nozzle 202, the maintenance controller 801 controls the wiping and imaging device 580 to move below the nozzle 202 and instructs the imaging controller 810 to image the liquid surface 301 of the defective nozzle 202 with the liquid surface imaging device 10. The maintenance controller 801 images the liquid surface 301 of the defective nozzle 202 by the liquid surface imaging device 10 and captures the imaging result (S2).
Then, the maintenance controller 801 selects the maintenance operation according to the imaging result and controls the cap device 570 and the wiping device 581 to execute the maintenance operation (S3).
The maintenance controller 801 may perform a head suction operation (nozzle suction operation) that cause the cap 571 to cap the nozzle surface of the head 200 and further operates the suction pump 572 to suck and discharge the liquid from the nozzle 202 as a head suction operation (nozzle suction operation), for example. Further, the maintenance controller 801 may perform a dummy discharge operation (flushing or purge operation) that cause the head 200 to discharge the liquid from the nozzle 202 toward the cap 571. Further, the maintenance controller 801 may perform a wiping operation to wipe the nozzle surface of the head 200 with the wiping device 581.
The maintenance controller 801 determines a state of the nozzle 202 from the imaging result of the liquid surface 301 of the nozzle 202 and selects and executes the required maintenance operation from the above-described different maintenance operations.
A twentieth embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
The printer 500 includes the head 200 mounted on a carriage 401. The carriage 401 is reciprocally movable in the X-direction (see
The maintenance controller 801 moves the carriage 401 relative to the liquid surface imaging device 10 in the X-direction so that the head 200A faces the liquid surface imaging device 10 when the printer 500 images the liquid surfaces 301 in the nozzles 202 of the head 200. Then, the liquid surface imaging device 10 images each of the liquid surfaces 301 in the nozzles 202 of the head 200A. Then, the maintenance controller 801 moves the carriage 401 to a position at which the head 200B faces the liquid surface imaging device 10. Then, the liquid surface imaging device 10 images each of the liquid surfaces 301 in the nozzles 202 of the head 200B.
As described above, the printer 500 according to twentieth embodiment can reciprocally move the carriage 401 in the X-direction so that the liquid surface imaging device 10 faces the liquid surface 301 in the nozzle 202 of the head 200. Thus, the printer 500 can simultaneously irradiate and image a plurality of liquid surfaces 301 in the nozzles 202 of the heads 200.
Further, “liquid” discharged from the head is not particularly limited as long as the liquid has a viscosity and surface tension of degrees dischargeable from the head. However, preferably, the viscosity of the liquid is not greater than 30 mPa·s under ordinary temperature and ordinary pressure or by heating or cooling.
Examples of the liquid include a solution, a suspension, or an emulsion that contains, for example, a solvent, such as water or an organic solvent, a colorant, such as dye or pigment, a functional material, such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, or a surfactant, a biocompatible material, such as DNA, amino acid, protein, or calcium, or an edible material, such as a natural colorant.
Such a solution, a suspension, or an emulsion can be used for, e.g., inkjet ink, surface treatment solution, a liquid for forming components of electronic element or light-emitting element or a resist pattern of electronic circuit, or a material solution for three-dimensional fabrication.
Examples of an energy source in the head to generate energy to discharge liquid from the head include a piezoelectric actuator (a laminated piezoelectric element or a thin-film piezoelectric element), a thermal actuator that employs a thermoelectric conversion element, such as a heating resistor, and an electrostatic actuator including a diaphragm and opposed electrodes.
The term “liquid discharge apparatus” used herein also represents an apparatus including the head to discharge liquid by driving the head. The liquid discharge apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus capable of discharging liquid to a material to which liquid can adhere or an apparatus to discharge liquid toward gas or into liquid.
The “liquid discharge apparatus” may include devices to feed, convey, and eject the material onto which liquid can adhere. The liquid discharge apparatus may further include a pretreatment apparatus to coat a treatment liquid onto the material, and a post-treatment apparatus to coat a treatment liquid onto the material, onto which the liquid has been discharged.
The “liquid discharge apparatus” may be, for example, an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet by discharging ink, or a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus to discharge a fabrication liquid to a powder layer in which powder material is formed in layers to form a three-dimensional fabrication object.
The “liquid discharge apparatus” is not limited to an apparatus to discharge liquid to visualize meaningful images, such as letters or figures. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus to form arbitrary images, such as arbitrary patterns, or fabricate three-dimensional images.
The above-described term “material onto which liquid can adhere” represents a material on which liquid is at least temporarily adhered, a material on which liquid is adhered and fixed, or a material into which liquid is adhered to permeate. Examples of the “material onto which liquid can adhere” include recording media, such as paper sheet, recording paper, recording sheet of paper, film, and cloth, electronic component, such as electronic substrate and piezoelectric element, and media, such as powder layer, organ model, and testing cell. The “material onto which liquid can adhere” includes any material on which liquid is adhered, unless particularly limited.
Examples of the “material onto which liquid can adhere” include any materials on which liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramic.
The “liquid discharge apparatus” may be an apparatus to relatively move the head and a material onto which liquid can adhere. However, the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to such an apparatus. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be a serial head apparatus that moves the head or a line head apparatus that does not move the head.
Examples of the “liquid discharge apparatus” further include a treatment liquid coating apparatus to discharge a treatment liquid to a sheet to coat the treatment liquid on a sheet surface to reform the sheet surface, and an injection granulation apparatus in which a composition liquid including raw materials dispersed in a solution is injected through nozzles to granulate fine particles of the raw materials.
The terms “image formation”, “recording”, “printing”, “image printing”, and “fabricating” used herein may be used synonymously with each other.
Each of the functions of the described embodiments may be implemented by one or more processing circuits or circuitry. Processing circuitry includes a programmed processor, as a processor includes circuitry. A processing circuit also includes devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and conventional circuit components arranged to perform the recited functions. For example, the maintenance controller 801 (circuitry) as described above may be implemented by one or more processing circuits or circuitry.
Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the above teachings, the present disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. With some embodiments having thus been described, it is obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims.
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